Avocetta 37: 111-118 (2013) Status and distribution of rock partridge Alectoris graeca in Apennine areas ALBERTO SORACE1, CARLO ARTESE2,3, ANTONIO ANTONUCCI4, MAURO BERNONI1,2, MARCO BONANI2,5, ANDREA BRUSAFERRO5, MARCO CARAFA4, LUCIANA CAROTENUTO6, PINO CORTONE, GABRIELE DE FILIPPO7, EMILIANO DE SANTIS8, PAOLO FORCONI, MAURO FABRIZIO2, EGIDIO FULCO, SERENA GUGLIELMI, ROBERTA LATINI9, ELENA LIBERATOSCIOLI4, MAURO MAGRINI10, MARIO MANGIACOTTI5, FRANCESCO MARIANI, MASSIMO PELLEGRINI2, EMANUELA PERIA6, VALERIO PINCHIURRI5, SILVIA PROPERZI, FRANCESCO RIGA11, MARCO SCALISI12, MARIANO SPERA2, VALTER TROCCHI11 1SROPU - Via R. Crippa 60, 00125 Roma 2SOA Stazione Ornitologica Abruzzese - C/o Museo “De Leone”, Colalto Penne (PE) 3Parco Nazionale del Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga - Via del Convento 1, Assergi (AQ) 4Parco Nazionale della Maiella - Sulmona (AQ) 5UNICAM Università di Camerino - Camerino (MC) 6Riserva naturale Montagne della Duchessa - Corvaro (RI) 7Istituto di Gestione della Fauna - Napoli 8Parco Naturale Regionale dei Monti Simbruini - Jenne (RM) 9Parco Nazionale d’Abruzzo - Lazio e Molise - Pescasseroli (AQ) 10Studio naturalistico OIKOS - Spoleto (PG) 11Istituto Superiore Protezione e Ricerca Ambientale (I.S.P.R.A.) - Ozzano dell’Emilia (BO) 12Agenzia Regionale Parchi (ARP) della Regione Lazio - Roma *Corresponding author: Alberto Sorace ([email protected]) Abstract – Scarce information is available on the current status of Apennine populations of Alectoris graeca. In this paper, data on re- cent distribution of the species in each Apennine region and data on census in several Apennine areas are reported. In Marche region, the size of population was estimated in 110-137 pairs and maximum density (1.25 pairs/ km2) was observed in M. Sibillini National Park. In Umbria region, the size of population was estimated in 9-23 pairs. In Lazio region, the size of population was estimated in 171-342 pairs and the highest densities were recorded in the Reatini Mountains (2.02 pairs/ km2) and in ‘Montagne della Duchessa’ natural Re- serve (1.90 pairs/ km2). In Abruzzo-Molise regions, the size of population was estimated in 1500-1700 pairs and highest regional densi- ties were recorded in the Maiella National Park (4.2 pairs/ km2) and Velino Sirente Regional Park (2.10 pairs/ km2). In Campania region, the specie was present only in Cilento e Vallo di Diano National Park, where the size of regional population was estimated in 84 pairs. In Basilicata-Calabria regions, population was estimated in 55-120 pairs. The Apennine population of rock partridge was evaluated in 1939- 2436 pairs. The distribution of rock partridge showed that many Apennine, pre-Apennine and anti-Apennine areas, apparently suitable for the species, were not occupied. Factors limiting the expansion and the growth of populations of rock partridge in Apennine areas are highlighted. A correct management of populations of Abruzzo region, in particular of local hunting pressure, plays a pivotal role for the conservation of Apennine rock partridge. Key-words: Alectoris graeca, distribution, census, conservation, Apennines. © 2013 CISO - Centro Italiano Studi Ornitologici 111 Sorace et al. INTRODUCTION the point-counts was multiplied by the surface of habitat suitable for the specie in order to assess the regional pop- Based on morphological features, Priolo (1984) attributed ulation size. In some areas, this procedure was applied to Apennine populations of rock partridge Alectoris graeca get the local population size. In the regions in which the to the subspecies A. g. orlandoi. Although recent genetic species was present in protected (i.e., hunting forbidden) studies do not recognize the subspecific rank for these pop- or non protected areas with different density, the assess- ulations (Lucchini & Randi 1998, Randi et al. 1992, 1998, ment of population size was carried out separately for the 2003), they have been isolated and demographically inde- two types of areas successively summing the two obtained pendent from all other populations of the species since the values. beginning of the Holocene (10000 years ago). Thus, some authors (Randi et al. 2003) suggest considering the Apen- nine partridges as a distinct management unit (MU, sen- RESULTS su Moritz, 1994). In spite of the conservationistic value of Apennine populations, scarce information is available on Marche region their current status. In this contribution, data on recent dis- In the past, some captive-reared birds were released in tribution of rock partridge in each Apennine region and da- Emilia- Romagna region, but these attempts were unsuc- ta on census in several Apennine areas are reported. cessful. Thus, in Marche region the northern limit of rock partiridge’s Apennine range is found corresponding to M. Catria - M. Nerone Massif. Besides these two mountains, MATERIAL AND METHODS the species is present in M. Fema and M. Fietone and Sibil- lini National Park (Fig. 1). The distribution of the species in each region was estab- Except M. Fema, they are all protected areas (i.e. hunt- lished on the basis of knowledge of local students of the ing is forbidden). Sibillini National Park hosts the majority species, ornithologists, technicians and guards of protected of pairs of rock partridge in the region; in the other areas, areas and on the basis of data collected for local ornitho- few pairs are breeding (Tab. 1). logical investigations (e.g. Bird Atlas). The size of regional population was estimated in 110- As far as quantitative data are concerned, they were 137 pairs. Regional population estimate does not include obtained from studies conducted independently in differ- the pairs living in the part of M. Laga-Gran Sasso Nation- ent Apennine areas, but that followed very similar meth- al Park belonging to the Marche region. These pairs have ods. Surveys of rock partridge were conducted using play- been considered in the population estimate of Abruzzo re- back technique in point-counts during the period (March- June) in which pairs are territorial (Bernard-Laurent & Laurent 1984, Bernard-Laurent 1994). In the different ar- eas, the dates of census varied according to the climatic conditions and snow cover. Days with strong wind and/or rain were avoided. Census was carried out in the first four hours of the morning (Bernard-Laurent & Laurent 1984, M. Nerone Bocca 1990). In each point-count, the call of the species M. Catria (20”) was broadcasted four times (towards N, E, S, W). Each call was followed by 20”of listening. To obtain the density (pairs/km2) of the species in each study area, we assumed that a singing male was paired with a female (Bernard Laurent & Laurent 1984); there- fore 1 point was assigned to a pair or singing male and 0.5 M. Fietone Monti Sibillini points to an observed individual. In addition, using an op- M. Fema National Park tical telemeter (Swarovski Laser Guide 8x30), we estab- lished that the maximum distance for species detectability was 200 m as an average of different conditions of species Gran Sasso-Laga recording. Thus, the investigated surface for each point- National Park count was 12.56 ha. Figure 1. Map of Marche region with highlighted in black the ar- In each region, the density of the species obtained for eas where rock partridge is present. 112 Status and distribution of rock partridge in Apennine areas Table 1. Density (pairs/ km2) and number of pairs of rock partridge in the areas occupied by the species in Marche region. Area Year (s) Authors Sectors Density Numbers (pairs/km2) of pairs M. Fema - M. Cavallo 2010 Forconi, Mariani (unpublished data) 0.55 4-6 M. Fietone 2007 Forconi (unpublished data) 0.62 1 M. Catria - - ? 2-5 ? M. Nerone - - ? 2-5 ? Monti Sibillini National Park 2009/2010 Bonanni, Brusaferro, Mangiacotti M. Rotondo 1.25 (unpublished data) M. Vettore 1.07 100/200 gion. In the estimate of Monti Sibillini National Park were the first regional bird atlas in the ‘80s and ‘90s (Boano et included the pairs breeding in the Umbria sector of this al. 1995), the data of the new Atlas (Brunelli et al. 2011) Park. and the data collected for the species regional Action Plan Trend of range: shrinkage; (Sorace et al. 2011) indicate that rock partridge is not more Trend of population: unknown. present in pre- and anti-Apennine areas and also in some Umbria region The map shows that the species is present in Sibillini Na- M. Catria tional Park and, with small populations, in other six areas (Monte Cucco Regional Park, M. Alvagnano-M. Pozzoni, M. Cucco M.Aspro, M. Coscerno, M. Fionchi) (Fig. 2). However, for M. Fionchi and M. Aspro very recent data are not avail- able. The size of regional population was estimated in 9-23 pairs (Tab. 2). Besides these, 10-30 pairs are present in the Umbria sector of Monti Sibillini National Park, but they M. Sibillini were not considered here (see above). M. l'Aspro Trend of range: unknown; Trend of population: unknown. M. Coscerno Mountains of Spoleto M. Pizzuto- Lazio region M. Alvagnano The map shows the areas (M. Reatini, M. Cicolani, M. Du- chessa, M. Simbruini, M. Ernici, M. Cornacchia, M. Me- ta, Mainarde) in which rock partridge was found (Fig. 3). In the last decennia, the regional range of the species Figure 2. Map of Umbria region with highlighted in black the ar- has been reduced. As compared to the data collected for eas where rock partridge is present. Table 2. Number of pairs of Rock Partridge in the areas occupied by the species in Umbria region. Area Numbers of pairs Monte Cucco Regional Park M. Catria (Umbrian side) 1-3 M. Cucco 1-2 M. Alvagnano-M. Pozzoni (at the border with Rieti province) 2-3 M.Aspro 1-3 M. Coscerno (Protected oasis) - M.Civitella 3-10 M. Fionchi (Protected oasis) 1-2 113 Sorace et al. Table 3. Density (pairs/km2) of rock partridge in the areas occupied by the species in Lazio region.